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Demographic, social and economic characteristics overview
KEY MESSAGES
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population comprises around 2.5% of the Australian population and is relatively young:
- At June 2006, the estimated resident Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population was 517,000 people, or 2.5% of the total Australian population.
- In 2006, the Indigenous population had a median age of 21.0 years compared with 37.0 years for the non-Indigenous population.
- In 2008, the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) for Indigenous females was estimated to be 2.52 babies per woman, compared with 1.97 babies per woman for all Australian females.
- At June 2006, most Indigenous people lived in non-remote areas with an estimated 32% of people living in major cities, 43% in regional areas, and 25% in remote areas.
Indigenous Australians have lower life expectancy than non-Indigenous Australians:
- At the national level for 2005–2007, the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous life expectancy was 11.5 years for males and 9.7 years for females.
- Life expectancy at birth for Indigenous males is estimated to be 67.2 years, compared with non-Indigenous males at 78.7 years.
- Life expectancy at birth for Indigenous females is estimated to be 72.9 years, compared with non-Indigenous females at 82.6 years.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander language and culture is strong:
- In 2008, 19% of Indigenous people aged 15 years and over and 13% of Indigenous children (3-14 years) spoke an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language.
- More Indigenous people are identifying with a clan, tribal or language group, with an increase from 54% in 2002 to 62% in 2008.
- 70% of Indigenous children (3–14 years) and 63% of Indigenous people aged 15 years and over were involved in cultural events, ceremonies or organisations in 2008.
Socioeconomic outcomes for Indigenous Australians continue to improve, but remain below those for non-Indigenous Australians:
- More Indigenous people completed Year 12 - 22% (of people aged 15 years and over) in 2008, up from 18% in 2002.
- More Indigenous people completed non-school qualifications - 40% (of people aged 25-64 years) in 2008, up from 32% in 2002
- The unemployment rate for Indigenous Australians fell from 23% in 2002 to 17% in 2008, but remained more than three times higher than the rate for non-Indigenous Australians (5% in 2008).
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This article provides an overview of the demographic, social and economic characteristics of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, families and their communities. Data presented are drawn from a range of sources and provide a context for the series of detailed articles focussing on aspects of health and wellbeing that comprise this release,
The Health and Welfare of Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples (cat. no. 4704.0).
Topics covered in this article include:
This page last updated 21 July 2011
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